Power?

I recently read a note on facebook by someone who is studying at Columbia University. He had written about what he thinks power is. He mentions that he has never been in its presence. He had an idea about it, heard about it, but never really felt it until he got to Columbia. He says that being at Columbia means that he is in the presence of power explaining that just going into the Career Services office shows a person how powerful Columbia is when you look at the resources at its disposal and things like that.

"Interesting" is the first word that came to mind when I read that note. I guess we all have an abstract idea of what power really is but have never really thought about it until, like in the case of this individual, we think that we have come across it. Thinking about it, I realize that this is something that different individuals would see differently. Just like "justice" or "social responsibility". Abstract concepts that no one really thinks about until they stare you in the face.

So what really is power? I have no idea but I doubt Columbia has it. If it is being able to get things done because of access to resources, that makes Columbia resourceful. This makes me thinks of other things that we just accept. Things like America being the most powerful country in the world. No one disputes this, but what does it really mean? If it is so, why is Bin Laden still at large? Is it because he is more powerful than America? Again, conventional wisdom would dispute this.

Another thing widely stated is that the American President is the most powerful person in the world. Then why does he have trouble with the US Congress with regard to Iraq policy? That, I am told is all about the separation of powers, the great thing about the US. Then, the power is separated right?

Thinking about it, I don't think power in itself can be defined. I would suggest that it is a combination of a couple of concepts: reputation, resources, money, physical strength, intelligence, authority, control, capacity and influence; to name a few.